Despite her sensational history as a killer and the daughter of a beloved international celebrity2.5 stars.

Competent, but far too earnest and wordy.

Despite her sensational history as a killer and the daughter of a beloved international celebrity, Rio Silvestri/Chizuru Akitani is a remarkably dull character. As a narrator, her language is mostly flat and her views of the world around her lack colour and depth. It doesn't help that Luce spends too much time detailing the tiresome everyday business of Rio's American life and too little on what must have been the real grief and horror of her middle school days in Japan. When Rio does describe her childhood pain, rage, and guilt, the emotions feel superficial and inauthentic. The structure of the tale let's us know as readers that the book is heading toward a climax, but there's little build-up and no excitement. The pacing is off and, while there are some lovely passages near the very end, by then it's too late to make me care.

I enjoyed Luce's earlier short story collection, Three Scenarios In Which Hana Sasaki Grows A Tail, immensely. I thought each tale was masterfully done and the Japanese settings were evocative and felt very real. Perhaps the novel form just isn't a good fit for Luce's talent or maybe this is a sophomore slump. In any case, despite my lack of enthusiasm for this book, I'll be interested to see what Luce writes next and look forward to reading it....more

I unreservedly loved this and am tempted to give it five stars. So, let's say, 4.5

Just a terrific collection of brief, often ambiguous, haunting taleI unreservedly loved this and am tempted to give it five stars. So, let's say, 4.5

Just a terrific collection of brief, often ambiguous, haunting tales. Saying too much about any of them would likely spoil their initial impact, so I'll just note that all the stories reference Japan in some way (most are set in Japan) and Japanese folk lore and aesthetics inform each of them (sometimes subtly, often in a more overt manner). Luce's prose is masterly; concise and graceful, her sentences bespeak a writer who knows not only what she wants to say but also precisely how she wants to say it. There is nothing excessive here, almost nothing that doesn't serve the story. These are clean, controlled tales that somehow incorporate magical imagery and rich imagination without adding bloat. A very special blend, too little found. I think I've just talked myself into adding that last half star.

Very highly recommended for anyone who loves a good short story....more

DNF at 77%. I "fainted" and just didn't care to go on. Deeply tiresome shit. Bind me in a clear sock and mark me as dead because I can't imagine finisDNF at 77%. I "fainted" and just didn't care to go on. Deeply tiresome shit. Bind me in a clear sock and mark me as dead because I can't imagine finishing this without falling into profound slumber. A waste of time....more

Disappointing. Fine prose in service to what is mostly an implausible, manufactured story that feels almost made for television or movies (To2.5 stars

Disappointing. Fine prose in service to what is mostly an implausible, manufactured story that feels almost made for television or movies (Tony, the pointless and distracting framing character, a "sympathetic" middle-aged white man in full-blown mid-life crisis, especially seems geared to the film industry). ...more

A debut novel, this is good book with a very good book lurking somewhere within. Pochoda is masterful at evoking a sense of place and specific time, aA debut novel, this is good book with a very good book lurking somewhere within. Pochoda is masterful at evoking a sense of place and specific time, and her characters are affecting, their dialogue very real, but the tangled strands of her plot thicken and thin arbitrarily and some threads drop in ways that can prove frustrating. Occasionally, a self-consciously "literary" sensibility takes over and gives more care to the way something's being said than what's actually being expressed, leading to a slow down in pacing and occasional implausibilities.

Despite these quibbles, I liked the book and look forward to reading Pochoda's new novel, Wonder Valley....more